Police searching for suspected cough syrup thief

LaPorte Police are searching for a man they say jumped the pharmacy counter at the CVS Saturday night and stole an undetermined amount of cough syrup.

Police say the theft happened just after 10:30 p.m. at the CVS located at 1423 Lincolnway.

Employees at the store told police the man went straight to where the cough syrup was located, grabbed several bottles, jumped back over the counter, and fled the store.

A witness told police the suspect ran from the store to the rear parking lot of Dairy Queen, go into a small silver car, and left the area.

The suspect is described as a black male with a slender build, wearing a dark colored hoodie and blue jeans.

The cough syrup the suspect allegedly took was promethazine with codeine which is a Schedule V narcotic drug.

Police say pharmacy robberies have been rising across the nation as the prescription drug epidemic increases. According to the DEA Theft and Loss Database, Indiana leads the nation in pharmacy robberies.